Title: Genome Canada Transplant Consortium (GCTC) computational approaches in kidney transplantation Speaker: Dr Oliver P. Gunther (Gunther Analytics; for the Genome Canada Transplant Consortium/Vancouver Immunology Lab) Abstract: Chronic kidney disease is a major societal challenge, costing Canada over $30 billion/year. Transplantation can restore life-long health with tremendous cost savings, but antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) and complications of long-term immune suppression cause premature graft loss or early death in 50% of recipients, with increased costs of care. There are no proven treatments for AMR so prevention and early detection are crucial. Two Genome Canada Transplant Consortium (GCTC) projects will be presented: (1) Use of HLA genotyping and donor-recipient eplet-matching strategies in organ allocation simulation models, and (2) Longitudinal monitoring of gene expression in the peripheral blood of transplant patients to identify immune quiescence or activity. Results from simulations are used to inform organ allocation strategies involving eplet-based matching in Canada while results from the longitudinal genomics analysis will be used to inform AMR-monitoring strategies in combination with other data sets. About the speaker: Dr Gunther has worked with the Immunology Lab at Vancouver General Hospital/University of British Columbia, Canada, as a consultant for the past 5 years, providing customized data analysis, modeling and simulation for projects related to kidney transplantation. He received a Ph.D. in physics from the Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany in 1998. Since then he has focused on data analysis, visualization, modeling and simulation, as well as algorithm and software development, including positions at the University of British Columbia, the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, and the Prevention of Organ Failure Centre of Excellence in Vancouver. Since 2014, Dr Gunther provides consulting services through Gunther Analytics.